2026-02-06 06:00:00
The ‘donut’ lamp is one of IKEA’s best-selling and most popular homeware products. This year, it’s had a glow-up, adding extra functionality that the brand hopes will make it even more user-friendly and versatile. I fell instantly in love with the new-look VARMBLIXT donut lamp when I had a chance to check it out at CES.
I wanted to find out more, so I caught up with David Granath, Range Manager for Lighting and Home Electronics at IKEA of Sweden, for a deep-dive into the new features. Here’s a run-down of the upgrades, with behind-the-scenes insights…
1. It changes color
The most immediately noticeable change is that the new donut lamp can change color. For this aspect, IKEA worked with Dutch artist and designer Sabine Marcelis, and there’s a massive range of color options to choose from.
“We wanted to build on Sabine’s strong sense of color and atmosphere and include her ideas on how the lamp could gradually change between colors in a way that feels smooth,” comments David.
2. It’s dimmable
“One of the most common notes of feedback we have had since launching VARMBLIXT has been the ability to dim it and change the tone of the light,” shares David. The updated version is capable of emitting a range of different white light temperatures (as well as all those colorful options), and it’s also dimmable.
“Updating the donut lamp takes us closer to what the original intent was, to not only create a beautiful lamp but also really let the light set the mood of your home,” he adds.
3. It’s matte
The 2026 VARMBLIXT keeps the same shape as the original, and like that version it can sit flat on a table or be mounted to a wall. However, the finish has been switched up.
“The biggest change between the designs is that the new version has a matte, white surface instead of a glossy, colored one,” says David. “This makes the light inside glow in a more soft and diffused way.”
It makes sense that IKEA has kept the recognizable, curvy shape of the first version. I asked David why he felt that design struck such a cord with the public, and a lot of it is to do with the form.
“I think it’s a good example of where unique design is combined with an affordable price. It’s a very strong design piece, and so simple in its form,” he says. “You can put it in any room and it works. And it doesn’t depend on a specific interior style, which I think makes it easy for people to connect with it.”
4. It’s smart
To enable customers to make the most of all the new control options, the new VARMBLIXT is smart. It’s built on the Matter standard, which means you’ll be able to integrate it into your existing Smart Home setup.
Hook it up to the IKEA Home Smart app to unlock the full spectrum of color options – there are more than 40 different shades, and you can change the light intensity and brightness here too.
For David, the smart part is a logical next step for the lamp: “VARMBLIXT is one of our most loved and best-selling lighting products, so it felt like a really good place to show how smart features can genuinely improve everyday life.”
5. … but you don’t have to use the app
One of my favorites of the new features is that IKEA has provided a way to access the additional features without having to use the app. “We decided to include a pre-paired remote in the box, to give customers instant access to the extra functionality, even before choosing to add the product to an app,” says David.
Using the remote, you can launch a sequence of 12 preset colors, curated by Sabine. It starts with white light, transitions into warm amber, red, and pink, then to a cool-toned lilac and turquoise, yellow, and then back to white. All the transitions have been meticulously fine-tuned and shift smoothly, without being jarring.
“Most people won’t buy this updated VARMBLIXT because they want a smart device but because it’s a beautiful lamp, where you can change the atmosphere of a room with a click of a button,” David concludes.
The updated VARMBLIXT is due to go on sale from April 2026. The original version will remain available to buy.
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